Ribes nidigrolaria Jostaberry

Ribes Jostaberry is a bush with small black fruits resulting from a complex cross-breeding between Gooseberry and Blackcurrant. It has inherited a very good resistance to diseases and larger fruits than its parents. Its small dark red, spring flowers produce black berries that ripen in July. They are tart tasting and can be eaten fresh, in juice and sorbets, and can be used to make delicious jams and jellies. Easy to grow, this non-thorny bush is rather accommodating regarding the soil, only disliking excessive limestone, drought, and poor, shallow soils. It is very hardy, grows in not-too-bright sunlight and appreciates a certain moisture in the soil.

Formerly belonging to the Saxifragaceae family, the Ribes genus is now the only member of the Grossulariaceae family, and includes about a hundred species. These bushes come from temperate areas of the northern hemisphere, as well as from mountainous areas of Central and South America. Gooseberries and Blackcurrants have both been cultivated since the 14th century for their vitamin C-rich fruits, as have native thorny Gooseberries in Europe, also cultivated since ancient times.
The Jostaberry is a complex hybrid whose scientific name, Ribes x nidigrolaria 'Josta', is composed of the names of its parents. It is the result of cross-breeding between the Ribes nigrum (Blackcurrant), the Ribes divaricatum from North America, and finally the Ribes uva-crispa or Gooseberry, thorny and with large fruits. As for the Anglo-Saxon name Jostaberry, it actually comes from the contraction of two German words, Johannisbeere (Blackcurrant) and Stachelbeere (literally thorny berry, therefore Gooseberry).
This vigorous bush, which has the advantage of not being thorny, is a highly productive variety. This Jostaberry forms a bush that reaches a height of 1.20 to 1.50 m (3 ft 11 in to 4 ft 11 in), or even more, with a width of about 1 m (3 ft 4 in) and has fairly dark green trilobed leaves. In April, small single flowers with 5 petals appear which are a beautiful dark red colour, but rather hidden among the foliage. Self-fertile, they then develop into clusters of 3 to 5 berries, first red and then turning black when ripe in July. Larger than those of their parents, they measure from 1.5 to 1.8 cm (0.6 to 0.7 in) in diameter and have a tart taste reminiscent of blackcurrants. These slightly fragrant fruits can be eaten raw and can also be used to make juices, sorbets, jams, and jellies. Rich in vitamin C and polyphenols, they are good for health.
This bush is easy to grow in full sun, or in partial shade in warmer regions. It prefers deep, somewhat humus-rich soils that retain some moisture in summer. Very hardy (beyond -20°C (-4 °F)), it is also less susceptible to insects and diseases, including powdery mildew.

The Jostaberry is a bush with small fruits that has many advantages. If you want to have a "super fruits" cure, plant a Lycium barbarum, better known as a Goji, alongside it. Its small red fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Peruvian Ground Cherry (Physalis peruviana) is also renowned for its orange fruits rich in antioxidants. You can sow it from May to harvest it at the end of summer.